Project files are special files created with Project Editor (or with Monarch) that have a .xprj or .dprj extension and which contain all of the information necessary to execute one or more Automator operations. Projects utilize text or database input, extract data from the input via Monarch model files, and export the extracted data to various file types (for e, XLS, PDF, MDB, TXT, HTML, XML, etc.).
Project files may contain:
Information about the project's data source (e.g., either one or more report files or an external database)
The path and filename of the model to be applied to the data source
Data extraction templates and field properties
Filters, sort orders, and summary information
Calculated field definitions
Information about project exports, portable report settings, and process prerequisites
Projects are a key component of processes as when you create a process in Automator, one of the key steps you perform is to assign a project (or projects) to it.
With Automator you can use an existing project file created with Monarch or you can create a new project file via the Project Editor. For details refer to topic Creating Project Files.